Even Santa Claude needs a check up now and again and when Christmas is just around the corner, it's all the more important.

So when this big pooch popped into the vet in Co Antrim he was happy to pose for a seasonal snap with head veterinary nurse Claire McConaghey, at the Firmount animal surgery.

And at an incredible 17 stones of pure pedigree Mastiff, no one was going to argue with him.

But Claude, who is two-and-a-half years old, is in fact a big - very big - softie.

And this year he joined hundreds of Santas on a fun walk to help raise funds for Children's charity Barnardos.

Owner Sylvia Darragh, from Glenavey, said: "When people first see Claude and his siblings they're a bit shocked because he's a big lad. He weighs 17 stone now and is still young but that's not the heaviest a Mastiffs can get. The UK record is 23 stone."

So it's fortunate then that this breed is a gentle giant.

They were bred originally to wear armour and bring down horses in battle.

But these days Sylvia's Mastiffs are more used to a good back scratch, helping charities and a posing for the judges in the various dog shows around the world.

She said: "At the moment we have 16 Mastiffs at home, five adults and 11 puppies. They are our world and I actually gave up work to look after them all.

"We have Claude, his son Mac who is a year old and 14 stones. Then there's GeeGee who is four years old and she's 15 stones. Lovely Lucy, who is mum to the puppies, is 14 stone and two-and-a-half years old. Then there's our big baby Sadie, who is two and she's a big girl at 16 stone.

"We're lucky to live in the country so exercise is no problem but I know that people who are not used to them are astonished by their sheer bulk.

"But I promise you, my Mastiffs are gentle, good natured and very sweet.

"They may not be everyone's idea of a sweet little dog but we love them and that's what matters.

"But because they are so big, so heavy, it's important that they are trained from early days so that they know who is in charge. As a breed they are stubborn so they need to know that they have a pack leader - and that's me, not one of them.

"They need to know not to run and jump in the house because, well you can imagine what it might be like to have 17 stones of delighted dog jumping up to greet you, or bounding onto the settee while you're having a cup of tea.

"They learn fast and they are good natured. In fact they can look like a dog you might want to avoid, but they're not natural fighters but they will always protect us if someone comes to them that they don't know.

"They step in front and become a barrier between me and the person nearby and when we are out with our friends and her little baby in her buggy, Claude will ensure no one comes too close.

"He just stands between the person who wants to peer into the buggy and the buggy. But once he's told it's ok, he'll step aside but he will keep watch."

This Christmas Claude may be all dressed up as Santa, but with 11 puppies at home, he has quite a job to look after the Christmas tree from these curious pups.

And if you have been won over by Claude and his gang, don't assume you'll be able to give a home to one of the puppies.

Sylvia said: "We are very proud of our pups and make sure each and everyone of them goes to a good home. But it takes me about a year to get to know the person who will be taking a pup.

"We build a relationship for that length of time before I make a firm decision when the puppies arrive. It's too important to know that they'll safe and loved, and it's too important for the owner that they know what they are inviting into their home and life.

"These 11 puppies had to be hand reared for the first four weeks of life because they're mum's milk didn't come in for five days so we were feeding them every two hours.

"It was quite a month but we got them through and now they are thriving and we've all fallen in love with each other.

"So Christmas this year will involve five adult Mastiffs and 11 puppies - that about 90 stones of pure Mastiff bliss for us."